Shree from Houston, TX, is an IT Pro turned author / poetess since 2015. Her works include short stories collection ‘Secret Expressions: Two Stories’, novella ‘Silent Invaders’, which has entered the quarter finals of Screencraft Cinematic Story (for Hollywood) Contest 2017, and Bengali poetry book ‘Onuronon’, released in International Kolkata Book Fair 2018. Her latest release is a novel ‘Daffodil: Blooming Beyond the Season’. Shree is a contributing author of ‘Flock-The Journey’, ‘Different Strokes’, ’50 Shades of Women’ and ‘Petals of Love’. Her upcoming anthology is ‘Muffled Moans – Unleashed’, where she has contributed two of her poems. She is a regular writer on several writing platforms, portals and magazines. She also works as a freelance writer.

About the book: ‘Daffodil: Blooming Beyond the Season’

“Daffodil: Blooming Beyond the Season” is a story of an ordinary girl who was compelled to lead an extraordinary life right from her childhood. Contrary to the meaning of her name, the flower which blooms in the spring, Daffodil had to brave squalls and struggle in retribution. Happiness came to her life only to obliterate it mercilessly. She witnessed darkness like nobody did but she persistently followed the light at the end of the tunnel. The tempest could not wither her roots ̶ she surfed through the ebb and flow of her life with robustness and proved her life to be worthwhile. Daffodil’s story is all about how she survived beyond the season of blooming amidst deaths, crimes, corruption, prison and vengeance.

We will talk with Shree about her book ‘Daffodil: Blooming Beyond the Season’.

What is the story behind your book. Where did you get your idea for the book?

First of all, thank you Storieo for giving me this opportunity.

“Daffodil: Blooming Beyond the Season” is a story of an ordinary girl who was compelled to lead an extraordinary life right from her childhood. Contrary to the meaning of her name, the flower which blooms in the spring, Daffodil had to brave squalls and struggle in retribution. Happiness came to her life only to obliterate it mercilessly. She witnessed darkness like nobody did but she persistently followed the light at the end of the tunnel. The tempest could not wither her roots ̶ she surfed through the ebb and flow of her life with robustness and proved her life to be worthwhile. Daffodil’s story is all about how she survived beyond the season of blooming amidst deaths, crimes, corruption, prison and vengeance.

The idea of this novel is a fruit of all the atrocities taking place in the society against women. The woman protagonist in my novel is tremendously strong and bold enough to stand up against all those crimes. The unfathomable support of the women writers has provided me the zeal to pen this story.

Challenges you faced while writing this book and in your life as an author?

Developing the characters of the story was the most challenging job because the story has several layers and settings. I had to make a constant effort to match the characters with the background and tried to sketch them as real as possible.

As an author, I feel that if there are no challenges, then no good work is produced. But to be honest, in the contemporary era of severe and ruthless competition, one needs to be more than just an author – “authorpreneur” is the term which is conventionally used nowadays, where an author is also expected to market and promote his/her own books. I feel a bit challenged here, as marketing is not my forte.

What is your life mantra?

Be positive and happy, and keep trying.

What is your writing process like?

I am not very methodical about my writing. But if I am handling a sensitive or factual topic, then I do a lot of research before I write. Otherwise I just pour my heart out on the papers, as that is the only way I can release the pressure of accumulated wild thoughts in my mind.

Anything special about your book that you want to share?

Every book is special to it’s author, I believe. This book touches quite a few sensitive nerves, for example, small town lives, corruptions, women in sports, animal rights, movements and revolutions, etc. Before I reveal any more secrets, my request to all of you is “Please read the book and share your reviews. I shall be immensely grateful”. 🙂

According to you, what are the three qualities an author must have to achieve success?

For me there is no guide book to success for authors, given that they are sincere about what they are writing and maintaining a standard quality. The right time and right place are the key factors which rule success. But I personally take care of a few things while writing a book:

Give my story an attention-grabbing start

Keep the story-telling gripping yet easy-to- read

End my story such that the readers yearn for more

What are your plans for next book?

Currently I am concentrating on writing for a few magazines and anthologies. The forthcoming anthology of poems ‘Muffled Moans – Unleashed’ contains two of my poems and will be launched this month.

What advice do you have for young writers?

Identify their interest, do a lot of research as resources are available in abundance nowadays, build their own tribe, and most importantly — follow their heart.

Share a quote or line that has been your inspiration.

There are actually two quotes by the “invictus” Nelson Mandela:

“It always seems impossible until it’s done” and “I never lose. I either win or learn”.